Desk pad



Oct. 25, 1949. l.. BRESLER 2,486,253

DESK PA Filed May 25, 194e Patented Oct. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE DESK PAD Louis L. Bresler, Chicago,l Ill.

Application May 23, 1946, Serial No. 671,730 4 claims. (Cl. 281-44) This invention relates to a desk pad designed and constructed for the convenience of the user and which is adapted to releasably hold a plurality of loose papers or sheets upon which notations or other memoranda may be made during the course of a telephone conversation or at ony other time during the course of a normal days business.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a desk pad having a frame providing a. holder for loose papers, such frame having non-skid feet thereon to prevent movement of the-frame and papers relative to the desk top or other surface supporting such pad, and which framework includes releasable friction means which holds the loose papers in xed position relative to the frame while the desk pad is being used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide rockable clamping means that is readily operated by the fingersl and which will function to either hold the papers in a xed position within a frame or holder and which can be readily manipulated to release such papers as needed. This particular rockable holding means may be manipulated by the touch of a finger to move the sa-me into a holding position clamping the loose papers forming the pad of sheets or to move same into a released position whereupon the loose sheets may be entirely withdrawn from the frame or turned over to be used on the reverse side thereof. In this particular construction, the rockable clamping means is frictionally held in clamping position and also in release position according to the desired adjustment as made by the perso-n who is using the pad.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a holder wherein spring means may be employed for holding the clamping portion of the pad frame in clamping engagement against the loose sheets of papers under normal conditions of use and wherein the clamping means can be released to withdraw a paper upon which notes y have been made.

A further object is to provide a desk pad of this kind having stop means to limit the insertion of loose paper sheets into the holder thereby forming a positioning means.

All other objects and advantages relating to the desk pad of the present invention shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the desk pad of the present invention incorporating the novel features shown and described;

Fig. 2 isa forward edge view of the desk pad as such appears in usable position upon a desk or other surface;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional View of the desk pad showing certain details of construction thereof and as viewed along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to the Fig. 3 section to show aL modified arrangement thereof.

The preferred construction of desk pad incorporating the l:principles and features of the present invention is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. This structure embodies an open frame I providing a holder having a supporting base 2 with upstanding sides 3 and 4, and an upstanding back 5 all cemented together virtually forming an 'open faced box with one edge removed lat the forward end thereof for the purpose of accom.- modating a plurality of loose papers or sheets 6. These sheets may be inserted from this open end or withdrawn therefrom either parallel to the base 2, or such sheets may be otherwise lifted or removed from the frame as needed after notes have been made upon such sheets or for other purposes.

This frame I is provided with a plurality of sponge rubber feet 'l that are cemented to the bottom of the base portion 2 and act as friction means to hold the frame'in frictional contact f with the surface supporting the desk pad so that the writer may use such pad without fear of movement thereof interfering with the writing and taking of notes whenever the occasion arises.

Rockable paper clamping meansy in the form of a flat shelf 8 is disposed in superimposed relatio-n to the base 2 of the frame and is pivotally carried by aligned screws 9 and I@ supported by the sides 3 and 4 of the frame. This clamping shelf is pivoted substantially centrally of the ends thereof providing a rearward tilting section II and a forward tilting section I2 which may be generally segregated as the portions of the shelf 8 lying to either side of the longitudinal axial center line thereof that is coincident with the pivotal center lines of the screws 9 and I0. By depressing the rearward Ipo-rtion I I of the clamping shelf 8, the latter is normally brought into abutting engagement with the upper surface of a stop I3 that is secured to the base 2 and adjacent the rear wall 5 of the frame I. This would place the shelf in a position to permit charging the holder with papers or sheets. l

In addition, the rockable shelf 8 is provided with a longitudinally extending sponge rubber strip I4 secured to a recessed portion I5 in the forward lower edge of the rockable shelf 8 which places this strip in a position to engage the upper sheet of a plurality of loose papes or sheets 6 to hold such papers in place upon the base 2 clamping the same between the sponge rubber strip I4 and the upper surface of the base 2. Thus, the strip I4 of the rockable shelf 8" frictionally retains the paper sheets in place holding the top sheet against any movement in a horizontal plane with respect to the frame I of the desk pad and, at the same time, such sponge rubber strip together with the rockable shelf clamps all of the individual papers 6 in the same relative positionl upon the base 2. l

The rockable shelf 8 and its frictional sponge rubber strip I4 are held in any angular position with respect to the pivot screws into which such unit can be moved by depressing either the rearward portion II of the strip or the forward portion I2 thereof. rThis is accomplished by means of the friction induced by the screws 8 and I which provide the pivotal. mounting means for such shelf. By tightening or loosening the screws 9 and I0, the tension and induced frictional hold existing between the shelf 8 and the sides 3 and 4 of the frame I acts to retain such shelf in its tilted or non-tilted position as. the case may be.

Suitable positioning means may be used for providing a back-stop in order to limit the movement of the loose sheets 6 toward the rear of `the device so as to dispose the edges of such sheets in a position to be properly contacted by the sponge rubber friction strip I4 of the shelf 8 and to expose a greater portion of the sheets for writing purposes. In the present construction, a plurality of upstanding pins I6 are connected with the base 2' against which the edges of the paper sheets 6` may abut in bringing the sheets into usable relation with respect to the frame I for the convenience of the person utilizing this desk pad. Recesses Il are formed into the under side of the shelf 8 to provide clearance means to accommodate the rocking of the shelf 8 from the full position of the desk pad as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3 or to the completely empty position against the upper surface of the base 2 when all sheets are used.

Similar coacting pins l8- are connected to the rockable shelf and extend downwardly toward the base 2 cooperating with the pins I6 to completely close the rear portion of the frame under the' rearward part of shelf 8 against entrance of papers such as 6 while the desk pad is in use, and more particularly during' the time when the rockable shelf is substantially in horizontal position with a full' pack of loose sheets 6 disposed in place and in usable position within the frame I`. Suitable recesses i8 are formed in base 2 in positions to accommodate the pins I8 so that the forward end of the rockable shelf 8 and the sponge rubber strip may be used to its full movement until the frame is entirely emptied of loose paper sheets.

In the preferred construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the shelf 8 which provides the clamping mea-ns for holding the loose sheets 6 purely by frictional contact and the device can easily be controlled by one hand by pushing down upon the surface II of the shelf 8 t0 release a sheet of paper which may be handed out to pass along infomation noted or such sheet may be turned over and clamped in place by depressing the portion I2 of the shelf 8. This can easily be accomplished with the use of a single nger or with one hand, providing a convenience which cannot be attained with loose sheets on the desk or with an unattached desk pad that is freely movable along the top of a desk to the inconvenience of the user.

A modied construction is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the shelf 8 and the base 2 are provided with recesses 20 and 2 I for positioning an expansion spring 22 which will normally tend to rock the shelf 8 into clamping position with the sponge rubber strip I4 engaging the loose sheets 6. In

this particular construction the paper sheets will be clamped at all times during the use of the pad and pressure upon the surface portion II or the shelf 8 will release the top sheet or other sheets from the frame. Obviously, one or more springs such as 22 may be employed and althrough it is preferably in this particular construction to avoid friction between the moving parts by frictional release of the screws 9 and I8 which should only act as pivots in this form, it is also possible to tighten such screws and provide a limited amount of friction in combination with the spring actuated and rockable clamping shelf 8 if that is desired.

The desk pad of the present construction may he fabricated from most any type of material which will produce an attractive unit for desk and oce use. In the present construction, the various parts thereof such as the frame I, shelf 8', and the stop I3 are all made from transparent colored Lucite. The frame I parts are interlocked by means of the rabbets 23 at which points such pieces are cemented together to form a solid unitary frame as a holder fo-r the loose sheets of paper and the rockable shelf 8 providing the desk pad of the present construction. The non-skid rubber friction` feet 'I and the strip of spongeI rubber I4 are all made from the same strip rubber material which can be continuous and cut into the lengths necessary to form the desk pad parts described.

In addition, the rockable shelf 8 presenting the two oppositely disposed pressure'surfaces II and t2 actually present a smooth surfaced cross piece forming a heading for the paper' held within the holder comprising the frame I, and such surface may be conveniently used for suitable advertising purposes or the same may be engraved, embossed, or decorated in any suitable fashion with the users personal name or for photograph and the like, enhancing the appearance of the device as as asset thereto because of its usual conspicuous use upon a desk or in an office wherever needed.

Changes in exact construction, form, or combination of parts as well as the use of equivalent mechanisms as substitutes in the desk pad of the present construction are all contemplated. All such modifications shall be governed by the breadth and scope of the appended claims clirected to the invention and which are appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a desk pad, a frame having a continuous rear upstanding wall and continuous side walls and open at the front for receiving a stack of loose sheets, and a base, stop means upon said base in spaced relation from the rear wall., a clamping plate extending between the rear par-ts of said side walls, pivot pins connecting said plate with the side walls providing av teeter-like'y action 75 for said plate and a friction strip secured to the lower forward portion of said plate adapted for engaging and clamping loose sheets to said base.

2. In a desk pad, a frame having a rear wall, continuous side walls and a base, a series of stop studs in alignment upon said base in spaced relation from said rear wall, a clamping plate extending between said side walls at the rear portion of said frame, adjustable pivot means connecting said side walls with an intermediate axis of said plate, and a friction strip upon the lower face of said plate adjacent the forward edge thereof, said plate having stop stud recesses in its bottom adapted for receiving said stop studs when said clamping plate is lowered.

3. In a desk pad, a frame having a rear wall, continuous side walls and a, bottom, a series of stop studs in alignment on said bottom in spaced relation from side rear wall, a clamping member extending between said side walls at the rear portion of said frame, adjustable screws journalled in said side walls and having threaded engagement with the ends of said clamping member, said screws being in alignment and being adjustable, and said clamping member having stud receiving recesses in its bottom for receiving said stop studs during the lowering movements of said clamping member.

4. In a desk pad, a frame having a rear wall,

6 side Walls and a bottom, a series of aligned stop studs rising from the bottom in spaced relation from the rear wall, a sheet clamping member extending between said side Walls, pivot means connecting said clamping member to said side Walls for tilting movement over said studs, and a friction strip on the bottom of said clamping member, the bottom of said clamping member having stud receiving recesses adapted for receiving said studs 

